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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Quick Tips for Your First Intern Interview

Investment banks usually conduct initial intern interviews around December and January. Some banks like to do the first round of interviews through phone calls. If this is your first phone interview, don’t feel nervous. These quick tips should be helpful.

Venue – make sure to find a private place to do your phone interview. Background noise not only disturbs your listening and talking, it will create a negative image to the interviewer.

Mobile phone – not recommended. Make sure to use a landline where line quality can be guaranteed.

Be yourself – don’t try to be someone you aren’t. The interviewer will be looking for someone who’s genuine and authentic – not pretentious and superficial.

Be polite – thank them for the opportunity to be interviewed. Also thank the interviewer at the end of the call.

Thank you note – if you have an email contact (ask for one, if you don’t), send a short thank you note afterwards.

Listen carefully. Interviewing is all about listening hard and responding sensibly and succinctly. Don’t talk too much and keep your answers well thought out and relatively short.

Answer questions. Make sure to answer the question which is being asked. If you can’t answer it, tell them: people respect honesty, rather than BS.

Ask questions. Ask incisive questions about the Bank. Do your research in advance on the bank, its culture and values, their recent moves and their strategy and ask what they are planning to do globally and in Asia (or the region where you are). This shows that you’re really motivated to work with them, are really interested in their organization and have prepared well for the discussion.

Wrap up. At the end, ask the interviewer if he or she has covered all the points he or she wishes to address – and ask about the next steps in the interview process.

3 comments:

Normally, I don't leave compliments to bloggers. I have grown comfortable with being a completely anonymous onlooker. However, your blog has provided me with such a wealth of insight that I needed to show you my gratitude.

I began reading it two days ago, and in these two days, I feel like I have increased the direction in my career manyfold.

The greatest information that I seemed to consistently extract from your blog was your assurance that "anyone" can become an investment banker. Having recently majored in biochemistry and having only work experience in science was seen as a limitation even though I am currently enrolled in the CFA. I am now more confident than ever that IB is more about the individual as a whole versus simply his academic record/specialty. I understand now that my employment history thus far is an excellent signpost to my hardworking analytical nature, and my stability as an employee. I now see that my vast wealth of community leadership roles play more into my life than simply wonderful experiences that I pursued.

After going through your writings, I have begun to take many initiatives towards securing a position in IB.

I hope to email you once again with more gratitude upon securing a position with an IB firm!

Normally, I don't leave compliments to bloggers. I have grown comfortable with being a completely anonymous onlooker. However, your blog has provided me with such a wealth of insight that I needed to show you my gratitude.

I began reading it two days ago, and in these two days, I feel like I have increased the direction in my career manyfold.

The greatest information that I seemed to consistently extract from your blog was your assurance that "anyone" can become an investment banker. Having recently majored in biochemistry and having only work experience in science was seen as a limitation even though I am currently enrolled in the CFA. I am now more confident than ever that IB is more about the individual as a whole versus simply his academic record/specialty. I understand now that my employment history thus far is an excellent signpost to my hardworking analytical nature, and my stability as an employee. I now see that my vast wealth of community leadership roles play more into my life than simply wonderful experiences that I pursued.

After going through your writings, I have begun to take many initiatives towards enhancing myself and securing a position in IB.

I hope to email you once again with more gratitude upon securing a position with an IB firm!

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